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CRPP Notification 19 translated
Committee representing members of People's Parliament elected in the
1990 multi-party general elections (Committee representing People's
Parliament)
Notification No 19 ( 4/99)
1. In the 1990 Multiparty General Elections, the undermentioned
two National League for Democracy candidates were overwhelmingly voted
in by their respective constituents in Kyaukpadaung township, Mandalay
Division:-
U Bo Zan- Constituency 1, received 35320 indisputable votes
(70.87%)
U Ngwe Htoon- Constituency 2, received 35735 indisputable
votes (68.44%)
2. Without any legal authority and in contravention of the
provisions stipulated in the Political Parties Registration Law and
the People's Parliament Elections Law, certain groups in authority
orchestrated a demonstration on the 15 February 1999, misusing the
people to shout slogans of non-confidence against these two legally
elected People's Parliament representatives. Despite condemnation of
such reprehensible conduct prior to the event and request that the
said activities be suspended the authorities with impure motives
carried out the demonstration using every illegal device.
3. In connection with this illegal, unjust and coercive activity
we publish the contents of a letter dated 18 February 1999 addressed
to the National League for Democracy from " a representative of the
people who are awaiting the return of the rule of law".
START
" Sir, this is for your information. I am a resident of Myauktaw
village, Kyaukpadaung township, Mandalay Division. I will relate to
you the events of 15 February 1999. At about twelve noon on 15.2.99,
Headman U Aung Myint announced (using a microphone) that every
resident, 18 years and above, must attend the meeting to express the
people's wishes (denouncing the NLD). Failure to do so was at one's
own risk. The same evening at 6:00 p.m, Maung Khin Maung Htay ,
organiser of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA)
made a similar announcement. At 6:00 am on 16.2.99, Maung Shwe Thein
(EC member of USDA) with a loud speaker, made the announcement that
the meeting to denounce the NLD would be held at 8:00 a.m and every
eighteen year old and above was expected to attend without fail. They
would suffer the consequences if they failed to attend (Note:- the
said meeting was to be held at Taungbaw village about one mile south
from our village).
This was how the meeting was called and held. Kyats fifty was the
penalty imposed for those who failed to attend. Aung Myint, chairman
of the village SPDC announced on the microphone that immediate payment
of the penalty had to be made. About one hundred and fifty failed to
attend. The announcement was repeated three times. About one hundred
and fifteen responded and made payment. There were about thirty five
who delayed. Ya Nyunt, police in charge of the outpost and a constable
went to the houses of those who had not paid and in Japanese-era-style
kicked in the closed doors and demanded payment. They were ordered to
immediately attend at the house of the headman. The headman's house
where these villagers were sitting huddles together, Ya Nyunt demanded
an explanation from them for their failure to attend the meeting. He
said that they would have to be associated with the NLD and would have
to be sent to the Police Station. The headman Aung Myint told them
that he had been reprimanded by the Township Officer and insulted
because the attendance was very small. He said that because of this,
he was going to have them arrested. These were the many ways and
devices used to threaten and harass them. Orders were then given to Ya
Nyunt and one constable to dispatch those 35 who had not paid the fine
to the Popa Police Station. Then they were allowed to disperse. On
17.2.99 they were again summoned to attend at the house of the headman
Aung Myint and threatened. It was about 9:00 a.m. they were told that
they would have to go to Popa at their own expense. By 11:30 they were
still unable to arrange for payment of the penalty so they had to walk
to Popa (the distance from Myauktaw village to Popa is about three
miles). Of the thirty five persons., only twenty five of them went.
The other ten were exempted by the headman, some of whom were (1) U
Thein Aung, (village SPDC member) (2) Maung Win, (U Thein Aung's
son-in-law, (3) U Tin Hlaing, Daw Kyi Hlaing and others. Those who
walked to Popa were the impoverished, widows, parents of young
children and petty traders.
A grandmother Daw Mai 9age 65) was one amongst those who had to walk
to Popa. Due to under-nourishment, a weak physical condition and fear
of imprisonment, she fainted on the way. Maung Saw Htay, Daw San Kyi,
Daw Kyi Shin and Daw Thay Khin helped to revive her. Daw Tin Kyi, a
widow was very distressed and kept calling out that because her
husband was no longer with her she was suffering such a plight. She
had hysterical fits three times and could not stop weeping and crying
out. (This happened at Popa-lwin village). Finally on arrival at Popa
at 3:00 in the evening, they were not placed in the lock-up at the
police station but had to remain in the compound of the police station
hungering and thirsting. Aung Myint, the village SPDC chairman had
remained behind in the village but Ya Nyunt the policeman was in Popa.
Then, the chief clerk at the police station gave instructions that all
would be sent back but first the headman had to be sent for. The
headman would not travel on foot, so a 3 ton truck owned by U Thoung
Myint had to be hired at a cost of Kyats 2600 for a two way journey.
Besides demanding fifty Kyats per head, an additional sum of kyats two
hundred was collected from 29 persons by U Pwe and deposited in the
hands of the chairman. That money belongs to the impoverished and
widows. To get that money they pursued and employed all these devices
and are dealing with the people in this manner.
In making this report I ask how can we, the poor and impoverished,
continue with this kind of existence."
END
4. The authorities are operating in an illegal and abominable way
against the people. The expression "peoples' wishes" is being
misconstrued. The word 'wish' connotes a personal desire without
intervention or force from another. The authorities are blatantly
forcing, intimidating, penalising and persecuting the people to behave
against their own personal desires and wishes. What a tragic
situation!
5. The above activities of the authorities is strongly and
emphatically deplored by us.
Committee Representing People's Parliament
Rangoon
7 April 1999
(Responsibility for this publication is taken by the National League
for Democracy.)
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